Being able to grow up with a handful of elite teammates is one of the biggest reasons Justin Schultz chose the Edmonton Oilers in the first place.

“It was probably THE biggest reason. I was looking at what’s best for my hockey career and I felt that all these young guys here give me a chance to improve myself and grow up with a team around my age and hopefully have a lot of success.

“We want Stanley Cups, hopefully a couple of them, that’s what you dream of when you’re a kid. I think we have the talent here to do it. Start building chemistry down here and when we get up there we’re going to be older and more experienced and we can play a number of years together and have a lot of success.”

Oklahoma City isn’t exactly what Schultz meant when he said he wanted to be playing alongside Taylor Hall, Jordan Eberle and Ryan Nugent Hopkins, but it’s the thought that counts.

“I didn’t really know what to expect coming in, but as soon as I started skating with him in the summer I was pretty excited to have him a part of our team,” said Eberle, who’s equally excited that Schultz feels the same way about Edmonton.

“I think it’s big that he recognized the direction we’re going and chose here. He had the option to go anywhere he wanted. It wasn’t too long ago that free agents wouldn’t sign here, right? To recognize that we’re headed in a good direction, and where he would fit in, maybe it shows other free agents to maybe take a second look at us.

“People are starting to recognize the way we’re building, the young talent we have.”

The only thing missing is Nail Yakupov ... and Edmonton.

“He’s doing unreal,” said Schultz. “I can’t wait until we can all come together and play in the NHL.”